As the Red Sox played the Cleveland Indians here last night, Charlie Sheen and his "Violent Torpedo of Truth" tour were at the State Theater only a short distance away. Here's some more truth: The Sox are more of a mess than the drug-addled actor at this point as they were beaten, 3-1, by the Indians.

I was surprised to see only 9,025 fans in the stands for a game against the Red Sox. I suppose 42-degree weather in early April is a deterrent for some. Perhaps it was the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball game against the Charlotte Bobcats next door or the other two events — musical Les Miserables' opening night or Charlie Sheen's eclectic show.

With temperatures expected to drop into the 30s Tuesday night, and a brisk wind blowing, only the hardiest souls are expected to show up at Progressive Field. Basketball’s Cavaliers are playing next door in Quickens Arena, and Charlie Sheen’s tour also is in town.

You get a first sense of the amount of attention paid to teaching at the College by the fact that Harvard felt the need to launch a "Teaching and Learning Initiative." You don't hear about the Red Sox launching a "Winning the World Series Initiative" or Charlie Sheen launching a slightly simpler "Winning Initiative" - winning is a core part of their identities, not something they have to initiate.